Matthew 24

Matthew 24:1

TO shew him,] it seemes that the occasion of this discourse came from that which the Lord had spoken, Matthew 23:38. concerning the desolation of the Temple whose greatnesse and soundnesse of building seemed to make the prediction to be very unlikely.

Matthew 24:3

Of thy comming,] whereof he had spoken in the end of the precedent chapter. Now it should seeme that the Apostles understood that of the manifestation of Iesus Christs temporall kingdome; which they imagined should come, and that they beleeved that the desolation of the Temple and the nation should not happen untill the end of the world.

Matthew 24:5

In my name,] usurping my title and dignities. Now Christ fore-armeth his Disciples and the whole Church against the deceipts of false Christs and Antichrist telling them of their comming, and strengthneth and instructeth them concerning his true and last comming in glory.

Matthew 24:10

Be offended,] see Mar. 116.

Matthew 24:14

Of the kingdome,] see Mat. 4 23. and 9. 35. The meaning is, you ask me concerning the end of the world and of the Temple together, as if the one could not happen without the other. I tell you that the ruine of the temple shal happen first; & after that the Gospell shall be preached all the world over, and by meanes of it will I enter in o the possession of my spirituall kingdome, gathering together mine elect, and sighting against mine enemies, and after that the end of the world shall come In all,] generally, to all nations without any difference, even to the Iewes, see Romans 10:18. Colossians 1:6 For a witnesse,] for instruction and perswasion of the elect; and for the conviction and condemnation of the wicked And tn,] namely after that my Gospell hath gone over all the world, and that I have hereby gathered my Church together.

Matthew 24:15

When ye,] he gives an answer to the Apostles question concerning the desolation of the Temple. Now by this abomination, it should seeme is meant the military Roman Ensignes or Eagles, they being a prophane nation; and held their said Eagles for gods, and worshipped them, and wheresoever they came, they brought desolation along with them, especially to the Iewes, see upon Dan. 9 27 Stand,] the Italian Set,] by the Romans in the Temple.

Matthew 24:16

Then let them,] after the Citie is taken, and the Temple profaned, then shall the desolation of the whole nation come, therefore let him that can, save himselfe.

Matthew 24:17

To take,] to stand to save his goods or housholdstuffe, but let him flye.

Matthew 24:20

On the Sabbath day,] because that upon that day they were limited to goe but a very small journey, Acts 1:12. wherefore a man might not flye farre. And also on that day, being strictly kept holy, it would be hard to provide for many things necessary for the flight. Now Christ in the Apostles persons, speaks to all those who in those dayes should dwell in Iudea, where the Iewish ceremonies should still be observed.

Matthew 24:22

Those dayes,] if the Iewes persecution under the Romans were not moderated by Gods providence, and limited within the compasse of a very short time, the whole nation would perish For the elects sake,] the elect amongst the Iewes whom God would also gather together in the appointed time, see Romans 11:5.

Matthew 24:24

If it were,] see 2 Thessalonians 2:13. Revelation 9 4.

Matthew 24:27

As the lightning,] refuse ye all those that shall give you these false impressions of the Messias his comming, for I will come no more to live upon the earth: and as for my comming to judgement it shal be with so much glory and universall splendor, that you shall not need to looke for it in secret places, by the direction of other men.

Matthew 24:28

For when soever,] this is not a reason for things spoken in the precedent verse, but a confirmation of the exhortation which he had made to them, to avoid the deceipt of them who shall againe looke for Christ upon earth. Whereas true beleevers by the motion of the Spirit ought to looke for him in heaven whither he is gone to feed his Church from thence by the perpetuall application of his death and passion. As Eagles and such like birds do by a naturall instinct or faculty flye a great way to finde out carka’es.

Matthew 24:29

Immedately,] with God, with whom a thousand yeeres are but as one day, Psal 90. 4. 2 Peter 3:8-9. Or under the foresaid afflictions of the Iewes, we must also comprehend all the afflictions of the Church untill Christs last comming The Sunne,]the Prophets do often times thus by a figure describe the horror of Gods judgements, Isay 13. 10. Ezekiel 32:7. Ioel 2. 31. and 3. 15. but here it seemes all ought to be understood in its proper signification, see Revelation 6:12 The powers,] the whole frame of heaven, most strong and immutable in its being and motion, the mighty bodies thereof, most mighty in their substance and lastingnesse, and in the swiftnesse of their motion, and power of their operation.

Matthew 24:30

The signe,] there is no particular signe specified here. One may take it to be some glory, or divine light, which shall be about him, or the sound of the trumpet, and voice of the Angell, 1 Corinthians 15:52. 1 Thess. 4 16. Or the appearance of him in his owne likenesse The Tribes,] the Italian, the nations,] namely which are enemies to, and rebellious against Christ Mourne,] for horrour of the present judgement, and for despaire. See Revel. 1. 7. and 6. 15, 16.

Matthew 24:31

From one end,] a vulgar terme: for to the eye the earth seemes to be bounded with the heavens.

Matthew 24:33

That it,] the Italian, that he,] namaley Christ comming to judgement.

Matthew 24:34

This generation,] the Italian, this age,] that is to say, you shall soone see the effects of these my predictions. And if these evils doe last long, persevere in saith, and be watchfull, to expect my comming ever houre, and to prepare your selves for〈◊〉 for my words shall be fulfilled. I give you no particular signe of the moment of it, for that is a secret which God will not have revealed to men.

Matthew 24:36

My father,] Mark 13:32 The sonne excludes himselfe from this knowledge; not that he wanteth any divine perfections, 〈◊〉 of knowledge or any other, Iohn 5 20 but because his office of Doctor of the Church, would not beare him out in the declaring of it.

Matthew 24:40

Then shall,] there shall be this dissimilitude betweene these dayes and Noahs dayes, that the distinction of those who shall be saved, and of those who shall perish, shall not be by companies or families, as Noah and Lot saved all their families: but every one shall be saved by his own faith and pure conscience, and shall perish by the vices which are contrary thereunto. See Habakkuk 2:4. Matth. 25. 9 Be taken,]gathered up by the Angels into the kingdome of heaven.

Matthew 24:41

Be grinding,] according to the custome of those dayes, which was to imploy their bondmen and bondwomen in grinding at handmils, Exodus 11:5. Isay 47. 2. Now it seems that the Lord would shew that Gods election doth extend it selfe to all sorts of persons, and separates the most joyned.

Matthew 24:42

Watch,] be in a perpetuall actuall exercise of faith, and be fittingly prepared to receive your Saviour.

Matthew 24:43

What watch,] See upon Matthew 14:25.

Matthew 24:45

Hath made,] these words are directed to the pastors of the Church and teachers of Gods word and ministery of his grace, Matth. 16. 19. whereof the two principall vertues are also pointed at; faithfulnesse in the substance of the ministery, and prudency in the manner of exercising of it, to salvation and edifying.

Matthew 24:47

Shall make him,] by the figure of the custome of men, in preferring faithfull servants to be overseers of a great houshold: he points at the state of glory to which faithfull sheepherds shall be exalted in the kingdome of heaven, above the ordinary members of the Church.

Matthew 24:48

If that evill,] the Lord seemes to point at some singular particular person that should usurpe a tyrannie over the Church: and should change the spirituall service into a temporall domination and carnall delights, Revelation 18:7.

Matthew 24:51

Cut him asunder,] from all communion of his house, and from his favour. See Deuteronomy 29:21 With the hypocrite,] who having been till then mixed with the true beleevers, and hidden under faire shewes, like unto that disloyall servant, under the cloak of being Christs minister shall be punished with eternall punishments. See Matthew 25:32.